London is the most visited city in Europe, so it’s not exactly breaking news to report how enjoyable it is to visit, but if you haven’t been recently then you truly owe yourself a stay. When planning a trip to Europe’s premier destination, it’s wise to start with Visit London and London & Partners, the city’s visitor and promotional agencies. They act as excellent resources on where to go, what to see, and where to stay. On their suggestion, we stayed at Premier Inn London Waterloo, part of the UK’s largest hotel chain. It’s clear that this hotel group are old pros at hospitality, with tidy rooms and a tasty breakfast to start each morning. The location, just a few minutes’ walk from the Palace of Westminster or the London Eye, was extremely convenient.
Once you’re situated, you’ll want to hit all the typical sightseeing icons, but consider some other stops such as the Churchill War Rooms to see where the Prime Minister lived and worked during World War II and Kensington Palace to see where much of the royal family has lived, including currently Prince William and Kate. If you’re there at the right time, you can get a tour of the UK Parliament and it’s absolutely worth it. Joanna Freeman was a remarkable host in showing us around the Palace of Westminster and it was revelatory. Being able to see in person the House of Commons where MPs are currently yelling at each other about Brexit and the House of Lords where the Queen recently gave her State Opening speech brought a new level of fascination for their system of government.
If you travel a bit out of the city center, consider visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour to experience where the Harry Potter movies were filmed. Many of the sets and props we’ve come to love are still intact and seeing them up close will change the way you watch the next Potter movie that comes on TV. Give yourself at least four hours here if you’re a true fan and want to experience everything fully. Not nearly as far out of town as the studio tour is Tottenham in North London, where you can watch a football match or take the tour of the brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Not only is it home to one of the best teams in the UK, it’s also the new primary home of the NFL for their London games. This state-of-the-art building was exceptionally designed for both their Tottenham matches as well as their American football games for an unbeatable atmosphere.
Our publication often reviews Broadway shows, so there was no way we could miss what the West End theatre scene provides. The funniest show I’ve ever reviewed was Mischief Theatre’s The Play That Goes Wrong and the company’s follow-up production, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is playing at the Criterion Theatre in the heard of Piccadilly Circus. Bank Robbery is yet again absolute genius comedy, a true masterclass in comedic achievement. The writing was clever, the timing succinct, the techniques creative, and the physical performances masterful. Julia Frith and Sean Carey stood out as two of the leads who put on stunning displays acting (all with brilliant Minnesota accents). If you want to see comedic geniuses at work, make it a point to see this play.
We also were able to attend the opening of Big at the Dominion Theatre, the musical adaption of Tom Hanks’ famous 1988 movie. The show composed Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire originally played Broadway over a decade ago but didn’t find success. This production has changed some elements, and the British cast struggles a bit with their American accents, but the show is a delight. Jay McGuinness, formerly of the pop group The Wanted, stars in the Hanks role as Josh Baskin. He acted the part of a confused and naïve tween suddenly in a grown-up body perfectly, to the point where you fully believe he’s inhabited by the spirit of a child. His dancing, perfected as the winner of Strictly Come Dancing (the original Dancing with the Stars), was on full display. The famous piano keyboard scene puts an instant smile on your face.
Off the stage and onto the screen, we had the chance to interview property expert Richard Blanco, who fans of HGTV’s House Hunters International would certainly recognize. Blanco always appears delightful on the show and doesn’t disappoint in person. It was fascinating to hear his perspective both of filming the popular program and of London’s everchanging residential landscape. He makes for a wonderful spokesman of London living and was delightful to chat with.
London is known as one of the premier cities in the world and for excellent reason. It offers absolutely everything you could ask for. Whether you’re a lover of history, politics, theater, sports, architecture, food, or film & TV, you’ll have plenty to do in London. There’s a pulsating energy in the city that can’t be missed. When considering where to travel, London simply must be on your list.